Reinforced composite heel and removable tap



Aug. 14, 1962 F M. RONCI 3,048,932

REINFORCED COMPOSITE HEEL AND REMOVABLE TAP Filed April 29, 1960 mum/mm FERNANDO M. RONCI ATTORNEV tats 3,48,932 Patented Aug. 14 1962 3,ti48,932 REENFURCED COMPUSETE HEEL AND REMOVABLE TAP Fernando M. Ronni, Providence, RE. (2 Atlantic Blvd, (ientredale, R1.) Filed Apr. 29, 1960, Ser. No. 25,617 4 Claims. (Ci. 36-34) My present invention relates to the shoe making art and more particularly to a novel construction of a re inforced composite heel and tap therefor.

The present application constitutes an improvement over my copending application entitled Reinforced Plastic Heel and Removable Tap, Serial No. 782,278, filed December 22, 1958, now Patent No. 2,935,800.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a reinforced construction for a composite heel.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a reinforced composite heel having a replaceable tap.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a reinforced composite heel having a novel reinforcing core.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a composite heel having a novel means for interlocking the portions of the heel.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a reinforced composite heel and tap which is simple in construction and easy and economical to manufacture and assemble.

With the above and other objects and advantageous features in view my invention consists of a novel arrangement of parts more fully disclosed in the detailed description following in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, and more particularly defined in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a womans shoe having a heel and tap embodying the present invention.

PEG. 2 is a vertical section of the heel, showing the exterior of the shank.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged section taken on line 33 on FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged section taken on line 44 on FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged exploded view of the removable tap and reinforcing core assembly.

FIG. 6 is a vertical section of the heel showing the interlocking action of the shank.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary view showing the shank construction prior to the insertion of the reinforcing core.

Modern high heel womans shoes are now being made extremely thin and narrow. To reduce costs most heels are made of solid vinyl plastic material. A steel reinforcing core extends through the narrow portion of the heel and may be used alone or in conjunction with a tap. in my copending application above referred to I have shown this type of heel with a tubular reinforcing core which permits the tap to be replaceable. In the more expensive shoes the narrow heels are constructed as a composite of three separate elements. The upper broad portion of the heel is made of wood. The elongated narrow portion of the heel is die-cast metal. The top of the die-cast portion is provided with a shank which is squeezed into an opening at the bottom of the wooden section. The entire heel is then covered with leather or other material which hides the joint between the parts.

This last type of composite heel is expensive and the thin metal portion has a tendency to break. The present application is designed to provide a composite heel in a cheaper plastic construction together with a reinforcing core which permits the use of a replaceable tap. Referring more in detail to the drawings, the shoe 10 shown in FIG. 1 is provided with the modern type of elongated narrow heel 11 and small replaceable tap 12. The heel 11 is usually covered with the same material as the body of the shoe 10.

Referring to FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, the heel 11 is a composite heel having a broad upper portion 13 which includes the broad top portion 14 attached to the shoe and tapering to a point 15 less than half the length of the heel with a substantial cross section. From the bottom point 15 down the heel becomes extremely narrow. The portion 13 is usually made of wood. In accordance with the present invention this upper portion is molded of vinyl plastic material which gives strength, lightness, and can be cheaply molded on multiple molds. The portion 13 i provided with a central vertical opening 16 extending upwardly from the bottom '15 through the portion 13. The upper end of the opening 16 is provided with a wide rounded portion 17 which gradually blends into the top portion 14.

Now instead of die-cast metal I propose to make the narrow section is of nylon or similar material. Nylon is tougher than vinyl and will stand up better in extremely narrow widths. Nylon is much more expensive than the vinyl but is here being used in the smallest portion of the heel. The nylon section 18 is elongated, extremely narrow, and follows the curvature of the upper section 13 to form a continuous curved line necessary for the completed heel. Extending from the upper end of the nylon portion 1% is an integral shank 19 having vertical ribs 20. The diameter of the shank 19 is equal to the inside diameter of the opening 16. The nylon portion 18 is provided with a central vertical opening 21 which extends upwardly through the shank 19. However, adjacent the upper end the opening 21 tapers to anarrower diameter as shown in FIG. 7. In addition, the shank 19 is slotted across its diameter at 22 for its full length from the upper end of the section 18 to the top of the shank.

In assembly the nylon portion 18 is attached to the upper member 13 by forcing the shank 19 into the opening 16. The ribs 26? dig into the walls of the opening and prevent relative rotation of the parts. This is necessary because of the flattened portion at the front of the heel as seen in FIG. 1. To ensure a proper fit and prevent rotation, the opening 16 and shank 19 may be made ovate instead of using the ribs 20. As can be seen in FIG. 7 the top of the shank 19 extends into the wide portion of the opening 16 formed at 17 by the rounded end of the opening.

Reinforcement of the narrow portion 18 is provided by a tubular reinforcing core 23. The reinforcing core comprises an elongated tubular hollow hardened steel member having a longitudinal gap 24. As described in my copending application the outside diameter of the member 23 is slightly greater than the diameter of the opening 21. Thus when the reinforcing core is forced through the opening 21 it will be compressed at the gap 24- to provide a tight fit with the reinforcing core applying a constant pressure on the walls of the opening 21. The reinforcing core is of such length that when it is hammered into the opening 21 until its bottom end is flush with the bottom of the lower member 13, its upper end will pass through the shank 19. As the reinforcing core 23 is forced upwardly into the shank 19 it tends to force the split portions of the shank 19 apart at the slot 22. This forces the ribs 20 of the shank into the upper portion 13 as shown in FIG. 3. As the reinforcing core 23 reaches the top of the shank 19 it enters the tapered end of the Opening 21 thus forcing the upper end of the shank 19' to flair outaces-2,932

wardly into the wide portion of the opening as shown in FIGS. 2 and 6 to firmly lock the shank into the portion 13 and prevent separation of sections 13 and 18 of the heel.

The tap 12 may be made of any suitable material such as nylon, leather or metal. It is provided with a large opening 25 extending from the bottom end and continuing as a narrow opening 26 forming a shoulder. The tap is removably held in the heel by a pin 27 having an enlarged head 28 which enters the opening 25 in the tap. The pin 27 extends through the narrow opening 26 in the tap. The pin 27 is provided with spaced pinched or upset portions 29 which form upstanding tabs extending from the surface of the pin. When the pin 27 is forced into the reinforcing core 23 it is contemplated that the tab portions 29' will ride in the gap 24. This will prevent rotation of the tap. Furthermore it is desirable that the pin 27 be of the same or perhaps slightly larger diameter than the core opening so that when the tap is pushed into place it not only fits tightly but has a tendency to spread the reinforcing core in its opening 21 to further look the parts together. When the tap is worn it can be grasped with pliers and yanked out of the core. If desired, additional reinforcement may be provided as shown in FIG. 5. The pinched portions 29 are provided with ribs 3h. The lower end of the core 23 is provided with teeth 31 formed on opposite edges of the gap 24. When the pin 27 is forced into the core the ribs 39 interlock with the teeth 31 to additionally help retain the tap in place.

I have thus provided a composite heel utilizing plastic materials which can be molded in quantity rapidly and cheaply. The lower portion of the heel is of much stronger material than the upper portion. While nylon is specified it could be made of metal. However whether nylon or metal the steel reinforcing core is necessary to prevent breaking. The parts are locked firmly together and the removable tap construction is designed to anchor the tap firmly in position yet permit removal and replacement. While vinyl plastic has been specified for the upper portion of the heel, it is obvious that any other type of plastic material may be used, or material with similar properties. The reinforcing core is preferably made as described. However, a conventional solid type reinforcing core will also reinforce the heel and provide the necessary locking action. Other advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent to a person skilled in the art.

I claim:

1. A composite high heel for a womans shoe comprising an upper plastic portion having a broad top tapering downwardly to a narrow bottom, said upper portion having a central vertical opening, a lower narrow heel portion of tougher material than said upper portion, said lower portion tapering upwardly in register with said upper portion, an integral shank extending from the upper end of said lower portion into said upper opening, said shank having vertical ribs engaging the walls of said upper opening, said lower portion and shank having a central vertical opening extending therethrough, a reinforcing core in said lower opening, said reinforcing core comprising an elongated annular tubular hardened steel member having a longitudinal gap, the outside diameter of said core being slightly greater than the diameter of said lower opening prior to assembly, means for locking said shank in said upper opening, and a tap removably mounted on the bottom of said heel, said shank locking means including a diagonal slot splitting said shank into halves, said core forcing said shank halves apart to grip the wall of said upper opening.

2. A composite high heel for a womans shoe comprising an upper plastic portion having a broad top tapering downwardly to a narrow bottom, said upper portion having a central vertical opening, a lower narrow heel portion of tougher material than said upper portion, said lower portion tapering upwardly in register with said upper portion, an integral shank extending from the upper end of said lower portion into said upper opening, said shank having vertical ribs engaging the walls of said upper opening, said lower portion and shank having a central vertical opening extending therethrough, a reinforcing core in said lower opening, said reinforcing core comprising an elongated annular tubular hardened steel member having a longitudinal gap, the outside diameter of said core being slightly greater than the diameter of said lower opening prior to assembly, means for locking said shank in said upper opening, and a tap removably mounted on the bottom of said heel, and means for locking said tap to said heel, said tap locking means comprising a pin extending from said tap, said pin fitting tightly into said core, said pin having pinched portions extending from the surface thereof and slidable in said core gap.

3. A composite high heel for a womans shoe comprising an upper plastic portion having a broad top tapering downwardly to a narrow bottom, said upper portion having a central vertical opening, a lower narrow heel portion of tougher material than said upper portion, said lower portion tapering upwardly in register with said upper portion, an integral shank extending from the upper end of said lower portion into said upper opening, said shank having vertical ribs engaging the walls of said upper opening, said lower portion and shank having a central vertical opening extending therethrough, a reinforcing core in said lower opening, said reinforcing core comprising an elongated annular tubular hardened steel member having a longitudinal gap, the outside diameter of said core being slightly greater than the diameter of said lower opening prior to assembly, means for locking said shank in said upper opening, and a tap removably mounted on the bottom of said heel, and means for locking said tap to said heel, said tap locking means comprising a pin extending from said tap, said pin fitting tightly into said core, said pin having pinched portions extending from the surface thereof and slidable in said core gap, said shank locking means including a diagonal slot splitting said shank into halves, said core forcing said shank halves apart to grip the wall of said upper opening, said upper opening tapering inwardly adjacent the top end whereby said core will cause said shank to flare outwardly at the top end to additionally lock said shank in place.

4. A composite high heel for a Womans shoe comprising an upper portion having a broad top tapering downwardly to a narrow bottom, said upper portion having a central vertical opening, a lower narrow heel portion of tougher material than said upper portion, said lower portion tapering upwardly in register with said upper portion, an integral shank extending from the upper end of said lower portion into said upper opening, said shank having vertical ribs engaging the walls of said upper opening, Said lower portion and shank having a central vertical opening extending therethrough, a reinforcing core in said lower opening, the outside diameter of said core being slightly greater than the diameter of said lower opening prior to assembly, means for locking said shank in said upper opening, and a tap mounted on the bottom of said heel, said shank locking means including a diagonal slot splitting said shank into halves, said core forcing said shank halves apart to grip the wall of said upper opening, said upper opening tapering inwardly adjacent the top end whereby said core will cause said shank to flare outwardly at the top end to additionally lock said shank in place.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,070,229 Gentile Feb. 9, 1937 2,111,314 Critchley Mar. 15, 1938 2,852,866 Quirk Sept. 23, 1958 (@ther references on following page) 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS De Blasio Sept. 30, 1958 Fitzsimmons Feb. 24, 1959 Fitzsimmons Mar. 3, 1959 Fitzsimmons Mar. 24, 1959 Whitted Feb. 2, 1960 8 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain Dec. 31, 1958 France May 20, 1957 France July 20, 1959 France Aug. 3, 1959 

